Translation and Meaning of: 人 - jin
The Japanese word 人[じん] is one of the most fundamental and versatile terms in the language. Its basic meaning refers to "person" or "human being," but its usage goes much further, appearing in everyday expressions, country names, and even philosophical concepts. In this article, we will explore its origin and how it fits into Japanese culture, along with practical tips for those learning the language.
If you have already studied Japanese, you have probably encountered 人[じん] in different contexts. It can be combined with other kanji to form words like 日本人 (nihonjin - Japanese) or 外国人 (gaikokujin - foreigner). Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to uncover not only the meaning but also the cultural and grammatical details that make this word a key piece in the Japanese vocabulary.
Meaning and usage of 人[じん]
The kanji 人, read as じん (jin) in certain combinations, represents the idea of person, individual, or humanity. Unlike the reading ひと (hito), which is more generic, じん usually appears in compound words, especially to indicate nationality or groups of people. For example, アメリカ人 (amerikajin) means "American," while 社会人 (shakaijin) refers to a "member of society" or "professional."
An interesting characteristic is that じん is not limited to humans. In terms like 宇宙人 (uchūjin - alien), it expands its meaning to include any intelligent being. This usage reflects how the Japanese language can be flexible, adapting a basic concept to various contexts, from everyday life to science fiction.
Origin and writing of the kanji 人
The kanji 人 has a history that dates back to ancient China, where its original form represented a human being in profile. Over time, this pictographic representation evolved into the simplified strokes we use today. In Japan, it was incorporated into the writing system and gained multiple readings, including じん (jin), にん (nin), and ひと (hito).
Interestingly, 人 is one of the first kanjis that students learn, precisely because of its simplicity and frequency. It appears in over 1,300 words in the dictionary, according to Kanjipedia, one of the most reliable databases on Japanese characters. Its radical (the part that indicates meaning) is itself, which makes it easier to memorize for beginners.
Tips for memorizing and using 人[じん]
An effective way to remember 人[じん] is to associate it with words that are already part of your vocabulary. For example, if you know that 日本 (Nihon) means "Japan," it's easy to remember that 日本人 (Nihonjin) is "Japanese." This pattern repeats in various nationalities, such as フランス人 (Furansujin - French) or 中国人 (Chūgokujin - Chinese).
Another tip is to pay attention to the context. While じん appears more in compound terms, ひと is used alone or in informal expressions. A common mistake among beginners is saying じん when referring to a specific person, such as in *あのじんは優しい (ano jin wa yasashii). The correct form would be あの人は優しい (ano hito wa yasashii), since じん does not function as a standalone noun in these cases.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 者 (sha) - Person, someone, usually used in formal or legal contexts.
- 男女 (danjo) - Men and women; refers to both sexes.
- 人間 (ningen) - Human being, the condition of being human, emphasizing the nature and essence of humanity.
- 人物 (jinbutsu) - Character or person, focus on individual or notable characteristics.
- 人類 (jinrui) - Humanity refers to the entirety of the human species.
Related words
Romaji: jin
Kana: じん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: man; person; guys
Meaning in English: man;person;people
Definition: human. A type of living being that has reason and emotions, and that shapes society and culture.
Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
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How to Write in Japanese - (人) jin
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (人) jin:
Example Sentences - (人) jin
See below some example sentences:
Kanojo no jinsei wa ai to kōfuku ni michinde iru
Your life is rich in love and happiness.
- 彼女 - her in Japanese
- の - Possession particle in Japanese
- 人生 - "Life" in Japanese
- は - Japanese topic particle
- 愛 - "愛" em japonês
- と - connection particle in Japanese
- 幸福 - 「幸せ」
- に - Location particle in Japanese
- 富んでいる - "いっぱい" (ippai)
Kanojo no hitogara wa totemo atatakakute shinsetsu desu
Your personality is very warm and kind.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - She
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 人柄 (hitogara) - personality
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- とても (totemo) - Very
- 温かくて (atatakakute) - Hot and
- 親切 (shinsetsu) - kind
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar
Kanojo wa totemo jouzu ni hito o atsukau
She is very good at dealing with people.
She treats people very well.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - she
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- とても (totemo) - very
- 上手 (jouzu) - skillful, good
- に (ni) - Target particle
- 人 (hito) - person
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 扱う (atsukau) - deal with, treat
Kanojo wa totemo nasakebukai hito desu
She is a very compassionate person.
She is a very sad person.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - she
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- とても (totemo) - very
- 情け深い (nasakebukai) - compassionate
- 人 (hito) - person
- です (desu) - Ser/estar (linking verb)
Kanojo wa byouki no yuujin wo mimau tame ni byouin ni ikimashita
She went to the hospital to visit a sick friend.
She went to the hospital to see her sick friend.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - she
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 病気 (byouki) - disease
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 友人 (yuujin) - amigo/amiga
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 見舞う (mimau) - visit (someone who is ill)
- ために (tameni) - for
- 病院 (byouin) - hospital
- に (ni) - Location particle
- 行きました (ikimashita) - foi (past tense of ir)
Kanojo wa otonashii desu
She is quiet.
She is quiet.
- 彼女 - "kanojo" - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
- は - wa- Japanese topic particle
- 大人しい - "quiet" adjective that means "quiet" or "calm" in Japanese
- です - desu - verb to be in Japanese
Maishitsu ni wa takusan no hito ga imasu
There are many people in the waiting room.
- 待合室 - waiting room
- に - particle indicating location
- は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- たくさん - many
- の - Particle that indicates possession
- 人 - people
- が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- います - verb that indicates the existence of something or someone
Wasureru koto wa ningen no honshou desu
Forgetting is human nature.
- 忘れること - forget
- は - Topic particle
- 人間 - Human being
- の - Possession particle
- 本性 - essential nature
- です - verb to be in the polite form
Seishitsu wa hito sorezore desu
The properties are different for each person.
- 性質 (seishitsu) - nature, character
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 人 (hito) - person
- それぞれ (sorezore) - Each one, individually
- です (desu) - verb "to be"
Ren'ai wa jinsei no subarashii bōken desu
Love is a wonderful adventure in life.
Love is a wonderful adventure of life.
- 恋愛 - love/romance
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - life
- の - Possessive particle
- 素晴らしい - amazing
- 冒険 - Adventure
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
